So how can you make the long and tedious design process easy (and possibly even enjoyable)?

You guessed it... Automation and design tools are key.

Having some great design tools on your side can release a significant burden off your back. These tools can save you time and dramatically increase your productivity. Our Top 4 Productivity and collaboration tools will help skyrocket your productivity even further.

Today, we thought we'd help you out by sharing these 18 CAD design tools that can lead to a more simple & enjoyable design session.

Advanced Design System is the world’s leading electronic design automation software for RF, microwave, and high speed digital applications. In a powerful and easy-to-use interface, ADS pioneers the most innovative and commercially successful technologies, such as X-parameters and 3D EM simulators, used by leading companies in the wireless communication & networking and aerospace & defense industries.

Geared toward PCB designers and engineers looking for high-value, production-proven tools, PADS Standard provides schematic design and layout capabilities in an intuitive and easy-to-use environment. PADS Standard is ideal for less complex board design, and where cost is a high priority.

Cadence® is a leading provider of EDA and semiconductor IP. Their custom/analog tools help engineers design the transistors, standard cells, and IP blocks that make up SoCs. Their digital tools automate the design and verification of giga-scale, giga-hertz SoCs at the latest semiconductor processing nodes.

L-Edit is a complete analog/mixed-signal IC physical design environment that is flexible and highly configurable.Create layouts that match the schematic the first time, maximizing efficiency and reducing the CAD manager’s support burden.

Ansoft, now a division of ANSYS Inc., had developed a new design environment from the ground up, integrating what had been separate circuit, system and planar EM simulation products. The product addressed high frequency design by offering a hierarchical approach to simulating complex distributed networks directly within the context of a circuit.

MicrowaveSoft Inc. offers solutions for electromagnetic design challenges. They provide you with full wave 3D finite element simulation software both for high and low frequency. If you are a SolidWorks user your life will be so easy as both of their softwares are fully integrated inside SolidWorks.

OrCAD® PCB solutions provide a complete environment from initial schematic to final artwork. The platform delivers a complete, integrated workflow. Unlike other PCB solutions, OrCAD has the ability to grow with evolving design challenges providing the security of scalability for future challenges.

The multi-page hierarchical schematic editor makes it easy to sketch a circuit. Once a circuit is created, you can do a transient, AC, DC, transfer function, sensitivity, or distortion with a simple command. The editor features stepping, scaling, panning, multiple-object selection, rotation about three axes, mirroring, clipboard functions, and multistage undo and redo.

Millions of engineers and scientists worldwide use MATLAB® to analyze and design the systems and products transforming our world. It is used for machine learning, signal processing, image processing, computer vision, communications, computational finance, control design, robotics, and much more.

Secret Bonus Tool: FindChips

FindChips.com is anther great resource to save you a ton of time when searching for RF and Microwave components for your design. It's like Google but for RF and MW Design Engineers. Read more about it HERE.

*All above descriptions taken directly from company/ linked website

What design tools do you use? Are there any great tools that we missed on our list? Leave us a comment below!